Finding The Perfect Bra

Makeuptalk.com forums

Help Support Makeuptalk.com forums:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
Joined
Jun 13, 2004
Messages
430
Reaction score
1
Busting Out: Finding the Perfect Bra

<!-- End: contenthead -->by Eileen Sutton

<!-- End: Related Links --><NOFRAMES>http://view.atdmt.com/ORG/view/vllgxfxt0140000003org/direct/01/
klipinsert4.gif
</NOFRAMES>The bra -- sexy fashion statement or medieval instrument of torture? The debate rages on among women of all breast sizes, but one thing is certain: A well-fitted bra is your absolute best chance for maximum comfort and style. But with so many sizes, shapes and colors to choose from, it can feel a bit overwhelming. Studies show that 70 percent of women are wearing the wrong bra. So where ‑- and better yet, how ‑- do you begin?

"Whether you're shopping in a big department store or an intimate boutique, you should take the time to adjust the bra yourself or get properly fitted," says Lauren Blankenship, who owns the New York lingerie boutique Bodyhints. "Bra cuts vary wildly across manufacturers, so we send our trained staff into the dressing room with customers, because most bras are adjustable in at least two places ‑- the back and shoulders. A bra might not seem to fit at first, but often if there's help with the adjustment, it will."

Next to comfort, she says, the most important thing about a bra is that it should lift the breast to just the right height. Bend one arm at the elbow to form a right angle. Then lay your arm across your middle. Your bust should be halfway between your shoulder and elbow.

Here, more tips from Blankenship:

<LI>Measure yourself. With a bra on, measure yourself tightly around the top of the rib cage just beneath the bust. If it's an odd number of inches, add 5 to find your bra size; if it's even, add 4 (so if you measure 29, your bra size is 34). For your cup size, measure around yourself again, but this time place the tape measure loosely over the fullest part of the breast. Subtract the first measurement from the second. A 1-inch difference is an A cup; 2-inch difference = B cup; 3 = C; 4 = D; 5 = DD; and 6 = DDD or E.

<LI>A bra should lie flat. If your cup wrinkles on the side, you need to go down a bra ‑- not a cup ‑- size. And the short piece of fabric between the breasts should be flat against your body. To make sure you put the bra on correctly, put the straps on first, then lean forward into the cups before you fasten the hooks.

<LI>The cups should hug your breasts. Your cup should be full, hugging the outer edges of the breast. If your breasts spill out from the sides or over the top of the cups, you may need a larger cup size or a cup with more coverage on the sides or top. If you favor soft cups, make sure no fabric bunches at the nipple. (Softer fabrics tend to fold on themselves.) For molded bras, be sure your breast fills the cup entirely and there isn't empty space.

<LI>Straps should be comfy but should not fall down. A strap should do its work but not cut into your skin. If your straps fall down, even after the right adjustment, your breasts may not be filling out the top of the cups and you should go down a cup size. "But if straps leave marks, it doesn't always mean they're too tight. You may need a more supportive bra," Blankenship adds. "And if the bra rides up in back, try a tighter hook or loosen the straps. If neither works, go down a bra size." Your bra straps are the right length if your bra is level across your back and not too tight when using the middle hook. Your bra, in front, should lie flat against the middle of your chest, and the back strap should rest under the lowest part of your shoulder blade.

<LI>The underwire debate. Underwires are found in 90 percent of bras made today, and should end at the side edge of your breast. "Some years ago, studies suggested that underwires might have been implicated in the formation of breast cysts and possibly breast cancer," Blankenship says. "But what they found was that women were wearing underwire bras that fit terribly. So over time the body was reacting. It's essential ‑- with all bras ‑- that they be fitted correctly."

<LI>Know your cups. If you're shopping for a cup size larger than B, try underwire soft cups, which offer support and will give you a natural, unsculpted line. Full coverage, molded-cup underwire bras are smooth and provide a professional look but may be stiff. Demi cups, which show the top of the breast, are found in soft or molded cups and usually have underwires. Rules of thumb: Define your breasts with molded cups, boost your breasts with demi cups and make your breasts look larger with padded cups.

Finally, keep in mind:

<LI>Smooth, silky bras look best under all fabrics.

<LI>Match bras to your skin tone, not to the color of the garment you're wearing.

<LI>If you have large or small breasts, shop in specialty lingerie stores or boutiques. Not only will you be personally fitted, but you'll also have much more of a selection. Department stores commonly stock their greatest assortment of styles in medium sizes.

<LI>Get fitted every year, says Blankenship, even if your weight doesn't change.

And now, the $10,000, time-honored bra question: Will wearing bras prevent you from sagging? "My instinct tells me anything that helps against gravity is the right thing," Blankenship says. "But while it's impossible to know scientifically, beautiful bras make us feel beautiful. And that's always good."

 
Nice post Diane!!! Great info (as usual!) Now I guess I know why my straps are always falling down! It helps to tighten them, but they just loosen up again.. maybe I'll try a size down next time
icon_wink.gif
 
This post came at such an ironic time! After a few years of wearing the wrong size bra, I was finally fitted at Victoria's secret. I was shocked to find out that I was not the 36C I had thought, but a 38D! I bought their new Ipex bra, and I don't think I've ever had such a comfortable bra. I highly suggest the bra.

 
Originally Posted by Brelki This post came at such an ironic time! After a few years of wearing the wrong size bra, I was finally fitted at Victoria's secret. I was shocked to find out that I was not the 36C I had thought, but a 38D! I bought their new Ipex bra, and I don't think I've ever had such a comfortable bra. I highly suggest the bra. Glad it worked out for you! Although, I didn't like it when I tried it... didn't like the way it tapered on the cleavage lines. Made me look lumpy.
icon_wink.gif

 
I looked up this post after watching an Oprah show about finding the right bra (though I usually don't watch Oprah!) .... One thing they emphasized on the show that really struck me, is that if you look at yourself sideways in the mirror the band of your bra should be perfectly horizontal. While I always thought that 34A's were too tight for me, I've noticed that some of my 36A's do ride up the back. So now I want to go to the mall and try on some 34A's, and loosen the shoulder straps to see if I can get them to fit horizontally and comfortably! lol (Plus 36A usually have too big of cups; 34A really have the best cup size for me but I used to think the band was too tight... but now I want to try again! Last time I went to the mall, every 36A I tried had too big of cups!)

But one thing that suprised me on this show was how much of a difference the right bra makes (especially if you're average or larger size; for me there's not as dramatic a difference in styles and sizes! lol). Every woman they made over (with the exception of the flat-chested girl like me) went up in cup size and down in band size -- they had pretty average figures going from sizes like 36B to 32D! And not only did they all look more "perky" and supported, most of the girls looked like they had instantly lost 5-10 lbs! And the girl with really big boobs looked like she had an instant breast reduction! So just something to think about if you aren't happy with your current bra
wink.gif


And Brelki, I'd like to try that Ipex bra, since most girls say it fits tighter at the top of the cup and many bras are too loose at the top for me (just cuz the cup is too big, probably), but they don't even make Ipex in an A cup. Not the first time I've found a bra that VS doesn't make in an A cup; since their underwear doesn't fit me right either, I don't even shop there any more except for sexy lingerie for hubby
wink.gif


 
very informative article!!

I wonder why, but my bras always fit pretty good. might be that I just fit the average 34B-bra. I just have troubles with the cup-shapes sometimes.

I hate anything molded cause it makes my boobs so perky, they look like they could hurt people if I literally bumped into them *lol*

but I do have some where the underwire is a little uncomfortable.

but overall I think VS makes great bras and they´re the prettiest ones around. I love, love, love Victoria´s Secret!!! :icon_love

 
The same thing happened to me! I don't know what happened, but I was buying 38B for years when I really needed 36C.

Originally Posted by Brelki This post came at such an ironic time! After a few years of wearing the wrong size bra, I was finally fitted at Victoria's secret. I was shocked to find out that I was not the 36C I had thought, but a 38D! I bought their new Ipex bra, and I don't think I've ever had such a comfortable bra. I highly suggest the bra.
 
Originally Posted by suzukigrrl The same thing happened to me! I don't know what happened, but I was buying 38B for years when I really needed 36C. Me too,at vs the lady there measured me and i was wearing 34c,when i was a 36 d(after i had my second child) Great thread ,good info to know,its tricky sometimes buying bras.
 
Originally Posted by girl_geek And Brelki, I'd like to try that Ipex bra, since most girls say it fits tighter at the top of the cup and many bras are too loose at the top for me (just cuz the cup is too big, probably), but they don't even make Ipex in an A cup. Not the first time I've found a bra that VS doesn't make in an A cup; since their underwear doesn't fit me right either, I don't even shop there any more except for sexy lingerie for hubby
wink.gif
Oh G.G., you might want to check out these *vassarette* bra's I found at *KMART*!!!! If you like the look/feel/light weight of the Ipex bra, check this one out! I was walking through Kmart once, and just happend to see it, and it so reminded me of the VS ipex, but this one has smaller cups, and really comfy! of course, it's not the same as ipex, but check it out!!!
http://www.vassarette.com/products/75236.html

It's only about $10 or $12 I think, but I am seriously wearing this one a LOT!!

 
Originally Posted by destiny Oh G.G., you might want to check out these *vassarette* bra's I found at *KMART*!!!! If you like the look/feel/light weight of the Ipex bra, check this one out! I was walking through Kmart once, and just happend to see it, and it so reminded me of the VS ipex, but this one has smaller cups, and really comfy! of course, it's not the same as ipex, but check it out!!!
http://www.vassarette.com/products/75236.html

It's only about $10 or $12 I think, but I am seriously wearing this one a LOT!!

Cool! I'll definitely look into that
wink.gif
 
I did not like it either, I felt like it was more something that my grandma would wear. I do have to buy a very large cup size but I do not feel like I should have to be punished by wearing a granny bra. The best thing I have found is the VS push up without padding. VERY SEXY LOOKING. My husband likes them and there comfortable so I can overlook the price when it has that much going for it!
icon_cheesygrin.gif


Originally Posted by NYAngel98 Glad it worked out for you! Although, I didn't like it when I tried it... didn't like the way it tapered on the cleavage lines. Made me look lumpy.
icon_wink.gif
 

Latest posts

Back
Top